Dust-guard for journal-boxes.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. A. HALEY.

- DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEBz20, 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. A. HALBY. DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB,20, 1905.

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following tr radially of the UNITED STAFF,

DUST-GUARD FOR JOURNAL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed February 20,1905. Serial No. 246,599.

whom it mmy concern/.-

t known that .l, JOSEPH A. liALEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fort lVayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, new and useful Improvements in Dust-Guards for Jou nal-Boxes; and I hereby declare the be a full, clear, and exact description of tne invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it per tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in dust-guards for journal-boxes, and pertains more especially to a metal dust-guard contained within the rear or inner end of a journal box and snugly embracing without clamping the axle, which extends into" the box.

The primary object of this invention is to provide adust-guard which is exceptionally tong-lived and more ei'l'ectivein excluding lust and preventing waste of lubricant than dust-guards heretofoire used.

Another object to provide a dust-guard having a self-adjusting bearing for the axle without clamping the axle, with the said bearing preferably formed by two upright sliding pieces embracing the upper portion. of the axle at opposite sides, respectively, of the axis of the axle and diverging up wardlyi'roin the axle, which bearing-forming pieces are arranged, therefore, externally and axle and have imvardlycurved lower faces conforming to and extendingcircumtt'erentially of the axle and mi uoliy engage each other at the lower ends of in: 'r opposing surfaces, so that they lock o: .h order as against displacement vertic: l; independently of each other and lower together to take up wear between them and t. e axle. I

Another object is to provide improved means for holding the dust-guard in place within the ournal-box and maintain the forward or outer sidr or face of the dust-guard snugly against the forward or outer side wall of the dust-guard-containing chamber of the box.

Vl ith these objec in dew and to the end of rendering the construction simple and durable and reiiable in its operation and to.

the end of realizing" other advantages hereinafter appearing this invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

have invented certain In the acrwinipanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, largely in central.longitudinal section, of a portion oi a journal-box, and this figure also shows a side view of the end of an axle extending into the said box, with my improved dust-guard contained Within the inner end of .the box and extending around the axle. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is a top plan in section on line 3 3, F ig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of the dust-guard detached. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. F ig. 6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. 4, looking dowmvardly. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are drawn on a larger scale than F ig's. 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, (1 indicates a j ournal-box, and b an axle, which extends into the saidbox in the usual I manner. 'lbe box is provided within its I rear or inner end with a quzulrangular chainher 0. which extends around the 'axle and is occupied by a correspondiugly-shaped dustguard, which comprises, preferably, a metal plate d, piadrangular in external contour and surrounding and snugly embracing the axle and contained within the chamber 0. The plate (1 is provided centrally with a circular hole 10 to accommodate the location of the axle, which extends through the said hole. The plate (1 is arranged, preferably, next to the forward or outer side wall 12 of the chamber a and provided at the edges all round with reinforcing-flanges 13, which proj ect endwise of the box toward the other side wall of the said chamber. The upper portion of the dust-guard detached is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

' The forward or outer side Wall 12 of the chamber 0 extends around the axle and is smooth and the forward or outer side or face of the plate d is held against the said wall and a dust-tight joint is formed between the plate and the wall.

Springs acting to retain the plate (1 against the wall 12 are provided and formed, preferably, by cuttin and stamping portions, 14 of the plate into the form of bow-springs which engage with and are held under tension by the rear or inner side wall 15 of the dust guard-containing chamber. The springs. 14 therefore effectually act to retain thedustguard in position against thev forward or outer sidewall 12 of the said chamber. The

IIO

, dust-guard illustrated is provided with four springs 14, arranged near the different corners, respectively, of the plate d.

My improved dust-guard snugly embraces the axle without clamping the axle and is shown provided at the top of the axle with two upright companion and cooperating bearing-forming blocks or pieces e, which are arranged at opposite sides, respectively, of the axis of the axle. mutually engage each other at the lower ends of their opposing surfaces, as at f, and diverge upwardly. The bearing-pieces c are therefore arranged radially relative the axle and adjacent each other.

The bearing-pieces e are arranged also at a considerably lesser angle to each other than a right angle, so that they lock each other at their engaging ends to such an extent that they cannot slide inwardly independendy of each other. Obviously the mutually-engaging ends of the bearing-pieces e do not merely make contact with each other at a single point, but at a plurality of pointsalong their opposing surfaces, and arranged and locked together as described constitute means for preventing movement of the bearing formed by the said bearing-pieces e into clamping contact with the axle, and the provision of an adjustable bearing which cannot possibly clamp the axle is of no inconsiderable importance. V

Each bearing-piece e forms a slide which is arranged radially relative to the axle and engages and is slidable endwise of a 001- pendingly-arranged slideway which (armed,

preferably, by two lugs or lips l6, formed by displacmg portions of the plate (1 laicraly of I the plat The said lips or lugs 16 embrace or engage opposite side edges, respectively, ol the said slide-forming bearing-piece.

The lower face'of each bearing-piece e is hollowed out or curved inwardly and circumferentiaily ol' the axle to conform to the axle and to render the said bearing-piece capable of snugly embracing the axle.

Each bearing-piece is provided centrally with a hole 17, arranged longitudinally of the bearing-piece, which hole is open at and ex tends a suitable distance downwardly from,

the top of the said piece, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A spiral spring Zis seated within the said hole and OXtG-llllS above the'said bearingpiece a suitable distance and at its upper end surrounds a lug 18, formed upon and depend ing from the top flange 13, which extends along the upper end of the plate d. The saidspring acts to retain the said bearingpiece in its lower position, wherein itengagcs, as already indicated, with the companion bearing-piece it will be observed, there fore, that the springs Z act to retain the two companion bearing-pieces =-e in mutual engagement, that the lower faces of the said bearingpieces snugly embrace the upper The bearing-pieces (4 portion of the axle, that the said bearingpieces co6perae in forming a self-adjusting bearing over the axle, and that they look each other against vertical displacement i independently of each other.

I would here remark that the two bearingpieces 6 "to insure theiroperation in unison are serrated or roughei'i'ed, as at 20, upon their opposing edges, as shown in Fig, 4, with the teeth of the said edgesmeshing with each other at the lower ends of the said edges. When the du t-guard is detached from the axle, the bearing-pieces 9 can be readily removed, if desired, for any reason by lifting ll them upon exerting pressure upwardly upon 1 their lower so as to unlock the bearin I? i pieces from eaoh'olher and permitting one to lower while retaining pressure on the other.

It will be observed lhataspace 22 is formed l j between the opposing serrated edges of the two bearing-pieces e and e, which space gradually increases in'width toward its upper end; I that the said space is closed at one side'by the plate (I, and that the said space is closed-at its opposite side by a flange 23, formed upon and projecting from one of the'bearing-pieces e; i that the said space is closed at its upper end by aflange 24, formed upon and projecting from one of the bearing-pieces e; tha the flanges 23 and 24 are preferably formed upon one and the same bearing- )iece e and perform the function of dust-guards in preventing the ingress of dust and dirt into the said space.

I would also remark that the plate (1 is providcd at the side at which the bearing-pieces a are located with a projecting flanged, extending along the surrounding wall of its opening at the sides and bottom of the opening. The flange (1 extends, preferably,

from the outer side edge of one of the bearing-pieces e circumfercntially of the adjacent side of the axle, thence in under theaxle, and. thence around the opposite side of the axle to the outer side edge of the other bearingpiecee. The flange (1 snugly embraces the no i axle from end to end without clamping the axle. The lower faces of the bearing-pieces c and the flange (1 are arranged, therefore, to form a circular hearing which extends completely around the axle. 11.5

A not unimportant feature of my invention is the formation of the body portion of the I dust-guard by a single sheet-metal-plate having its forward side or face abutting against the forward or outer side wall of the dust- 12o guard-(win taming chamber of the j ournal-box and having the things (1' and the bearingpieces c snugly embracing the axle at the rear .side of the said plate without clamping the axle at any point, so that wearupon the axle f and dust-guard, if not entirely avoided, is at least reduced to a minimum.

My improved dust-guardhas' been fully tested and the tests to whichit has been subl ected have lcmoi-istr'atml that the dust- 13o ing and lard, the axle journal, and the bearing-affording parts of the journalbox last much longer than with the use of dust-guards heretofore made and that waste of lubricant is effectually avoided.

What I claim is 1. A dust-guard for a journal-boX, said guardhaving an axle-accommodating openprovided with a self-adjusting bearing whie is arranged at the top and held externally of the opening and has means for preventing the movement of the said bearing into clamping contact with the axle.

2. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard comprising a metal plate having a contrally-located axle-accommodating opening, which plate is rovided at the top of the opening with a sel -adjusting bearing arranged to automatically lower to take up wear but always held over and externally of the axlereceiving space of the uard.

3. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having an axle-accommodating opening and provided at the top with two bearing pieces located externally of and diverging upwardly from the opening and movable together inwardly upon wear on their lower faces, said bearing-pieces mutually locking each other at the adjacent ends of their aforesaid faces and arranged at a considerable lesser angle to. each other than a right angle, and means acting to simultaneously lower the said bearing-pieces.

4. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having an aXle-accommodating openi-ngand comprising the following: two bearing-pieces arranged externally of and diverging from the said openin'g, which bearingpieces mutually lock each other at theiropposing surfaces, and have the said surfaces serrated or roughened, and means acting to retain the said hez'tring-pieces in contact with each other.

5. A' dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having an axle-accommodating opening and comprising the following: two up- .vardly-diverging suitably-guided bearingpieces arranged at the top of the said openings which bearing-pieces mutually engage each other at the lower ends of their opposing surfaces and have the said surfaces serrated or roughened.

6. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having a body portion which is provided with an axle-accommodating opening; and-two bearing-pieces arranged externally of and diverging from the said opening, said bearing-pieces mutually engaging each other at their adjacent ends, and the body portion having members ovcrlappingthc side edges of and guiding the bearing-pieces.

7. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard comprising a plate which has an axleaccommodating opening, and two bearingpieces arranged externally of and diverging {from the said opening, said bearing-pieces mutually engaging each other, and there bei '5 lugs formed on the aforesaid plate and o v'erlap ping the side edges of and guiding the bearing-pieces.

p S. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard comprising a plate which has an axleaccommodating opening; two upwardly-diverging bearing-pieces arranged at the top of the said opening and having lower faces arranged circumferentially of the said opening, said bearingpieces mutually engaging each other, and lugs formed on the aforesaid plate and overlapping the side edges of and guiding the bearing-pieccs 9. A dust-guard for a journalbox, said guard cor-uprising a plate which has an axleaecommodating opening; two upwardly-diverging bearing-pieces arranged at one side of the plate and at the top of the said opening and locked to each other but free to lower together to take up wearupon th irlowerfaees, spiral springs seated in and extending from within the bearing-pieces, there being a flange formed on and at the top of the aforesaid plate, and a connection between the springs and the said flange.

10. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having an axle-accoinmodating opening and provided with a self-adjusting hearing which is formed only by two bearing- )ieces which are arranged at a considerably lesser angle to each other than a right angle at the top of the said opening and always held externally of the axle-receiving space of the guard, said bearing-pieces automatically locking each other and only free to lower together to take upwear, and means acting to retain the said bearing-pieces in contact with each other.

11. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard having an aXle-acconunodating opening and provided with a self-adjusting bearing formed by two upwardly-diverging bear-v ing-pieces arranged at the .top ofthe said opening and locked to ea'ch other but free to lower together to talgc up wear upon their lower faces, with the opposing surfaces of the said bearing-pieces next above their said faces serrated or roughened, and ineansfor preventing the ingress of dust or dirt into the space between the opposing serrated or roughened surfaces of the bearing-pieces.

12. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard comprising a body portion having an axle-accoinmodating opening and provided with two suitably-guided up\'ardtf-diverging bearing-pieces arranged at the top of the aforesaid opening, said bearing-pieces mutually engaging each other at the lower ends of their opposing surfaces and having the said surfaces serrated or roughened, and means for excluding dust and dirt from the space between the aforesaid surfaces.

13. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said r30 ICC guard Comprising a body portion having an axle-accommodating opening and provided, at one side of the body portion, with two upwardly-diverging suitably-guided bearingpieces arranged at the top of the aforesaid opening, said bearing-pieces mutually engaging each other at the lower ends of their Op 7 posing surfaces, there being a flange formed ieces at and covon one of the said bearinge aforesaid surering the space between t faces.

14. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said guard comprising a body portion having an axle-accommodating opening and provided,'

at one side of the body portion, With two upwardly-diverging suitably-guided bearingpieces arranged at the top of the aforesaid opening, said bearing-pieces mutuallyengaging each other at the lower ends of their opposing surfaces; and one of the bearing-pieces havin two fian es arran ed to exclude dust c: o

and dirt from the space between the aforesaid surfaces at the top and rear side respectively of the space. i

15. A dust-guard for a journal-box, said. guard comprising a body portion having an axle-accommodating opening and provided with two suitably guided bearing-pieces arranged neXt externally of and diverging froni the aforesaid opening, said bearing-pieces mutually engaging each other at the adjacentv O. H. Donna, B. C. Bnown.

sign the foregoing, 3 5 

